Nadaness In Motion is the book blog owned by Nada Adel Sobhi and it is where honest book reviews meet author interviews, guest posts, and personal writing ranging from poetry to short stories alongside the Takhayyal/Imagine writing prompt challenge. ---
“You cannot kill a breeze, a wind, a fragrance; you cannot kill a dream or an ambition.” - Michel Onfray

Do I have to? Lol. I don’t
like talking about myself. I’d rather talk about you.

Q: Which do you prefer e-books or
paperback?

Both have a different purpose
for me. When I’m studying a novel I like to hold it, dog-ear the pages, and
write in the margins. But if I’m speed-reading I like to read it on my Kindle.

Q: What are you currently reading? And
what is your favourite genre in general?

I’m reading THE BOOK THIEF.
It’ll be a movie in 2014. The novel was agented by a lit agent who read all of
my latest novel, SCATTERED LINKS, in a contest. I wanted to read the type of
books she represents.

Q: What do you think of self-help books
on writing books or novels and publishing them? (Are they helpful or are most
of them just a hoax? Would you recommend any?)

Self-help writing books are a
must. I’m always striving to learn more about this craft of writing, and if a
book can help I’m all about it. The
EMOTIONAL THESAURUS is a great tool to have to help you flesh out character
emotions. Jim Denney is a friend of mine and he wrote WRITING IN OVERDRIVE.
This book is motivational. But there are a lot of them out there. Blogs on
writing are great too.

Q: If you can have any super-power, what
would it be?

I’d like to be able to fly,
but I’ve always wanted to have the ability to keep going without any sleep.
There’s too much I want to do and not enough time to do it.

Q: What is your favourite food?

I like practically anything
someone else makes for me. I don’t like to take time to cook, but I appreciate
a good meal. I’m not picky, but I like to stay healthy.

Q: You told me Cache a Predator
is a self-published book. So, what can you tell us about indie/self-publishing
that seems to be taking the US by storm.

For me it was the way to go,
but not for everyone. I’d still like to land a high-profile agent and find a
large publishing house that will give me an advance. But I’m an entrepreneur
and find self-publishing similar to owning my own business. I enjoy that. I’m
not afraid to market my work, but that’s because I have a great editor.

Q: What are the pros and cons of
self-publishing? And what was the hardest part in producing the book?

This is a huge question. One
that might take too long to write. I’ll try. The pros in self-publishing are
being in control of the story, the cover, marketing, and the overall project.
The cons are the same—it’s all up to you, you have all the risk, you handle all
the different projects wearing a different hat for each task.

But if we don’t keep writing
we don’t have a product to sell, so it’s important not to forget to write every
day.

Q: When writing a novel, do you have a
main theme in mind or do you write and then start highlighting the themes and
dissecting the book?

I typically have a premise. I
wouldn’t call it a theme. I have a character with a goal, and things get in the
way of him reaching that goal. I like to mess up his life and watch him squirm.
Some call it torture.

Q: How do you go about when it comes to
negative critiques?

I listen closely. They matter.
But typically I ask several different editors and beta-readers for their
opinion. If several readers feel the same way then I rethink the plot line or edit
the rough edges, etc. That’s why I like to have beta readers read the novel
before it’s published. They can offer great insight.

Q: Aspiring writers claim that the
hardest part is finding an editor. How did that work for you and for Cache a
Predator?

A good one is expensive, but
just like in any business you have to spend money to make money. At least,
initially. It’s important to try different ones and see how they can help. Mine
liberated me. She pushed me to write the best story, but gave me confidence.
Once it was professionally edited I felt better about presenting a solid piece
of work.

Q: When did the title of the novel come
to mind, before or while writing the book or was it a friend’s suggestion?

The title didn’t get “finalized” until weeks before publishing.
It started out as THE MUGGLER, then I had people vote on titles. Some of the
other choices were COLD CACHE, THE COLD CACHE EXPOSURE, CACHE 22, and
CACHE a RELEASE. Some people pronounce ‘cache’ like cachet, with the dash
over the e. So I wonder sometimes if I chose the right title. Self-doubt worms
its way into my thoughts way too often.

Q: Cache a Predator entails psychology
and knowledge of the law. How did you conduct your research? Did you meet with
doctors for instance?

I can spend a lot of time on
research and never sit my butt in a chair, so yes, I interviewed doctors,
deputies, geo-cachers, counselors, and child protective services staff. I
needed information to make my story ring true, but honestly, there’s so much on
the internet that there were times when that was enough.

Q: When and why did you start Random Writing Rants?

I started this blog for writers almost two
years ago when I decided I needed a platform based on what the writing industry
said was important. But I really like to help other writers and share what I’m
learning, so it made sense that I would teach writing. My goal was to mentor
teens because most of my novels are for young adults –ranging from
first-graders to high-schoolers. But finding teens hasn’t been easy. I like to
feature a teen writer on Fridays at my blog. I call it FAN FRIDAY. They share a
story and I invite other writers to come and offer them encouragement. We’re
THEIR fan for a day.

Q: So, having published your first novel, do you have
a second one in mind? If yes, will it be a different genre?

Yes, I’ve written several young adult
novels, a mid-grade novel, and a children’s chapter book series. I’m not sure
which novel will be next, but I think it’ll be SCATTERED LINKS, a
multi-cultural novel about a Russian teen girl. I have an adopted daughter from
Russia so I’ve always been intrigued by that country.

Q: Do you know anyone who acts a bit or a lot like
Ali’s mother? (She was an obnoxious character but Brett’s replies and thoughts
made for comic relief)

She was a piece of work, wasn’t
she? I think her character was based on someone I saw on TV—a grouchy old lady
who never took responsibility for her own actions.

Q: How long did it take you to write Cache a
Predator?

I wrote 50,000 words for CACHE duringNaNoWriMoin 2011, but probably spent a year after (off and on, not constantly)
editing the story. Then I had it critiqued, rewrote it some more, and then
edited. It’s a long process, but fun!

I like that you have motives behind writing Cache a
Predator, such as exposing abuse and some loopholes in the system. I also
like that the theme of love in the novel is that of father-daughter, even if
there is a bit of Brett-Sarah.

Thank you! I think it’s important to make
stories universal—something that readers can relate to—and who doesn’t want to
keep kids safe?

Q: What genres would you like to experiment with in
the future?

An adult romance or a romantic suspense
novel. I’m open to all stories that move me and plant themselves in my
imagination. I never know when someone’s plight might trigger a story idea.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Thirty
Scary Tales by Rayne Hall is a
collection of short stories encompassing an array of settings, narration styles
and topics with theme of ‘scary’.

One should
remember the varying difference between scary and horrifying. This collection
is scary, occasionally gory, but rarely horrifying. Some tales involve elements
of the supernatural – which I adore; while others are inspired from the writer’s
real-life events, making these tales scarier than the supernatural ones.

There
are tales of vampires, ghosts, magic and dreams and other supernatural elements.
They are all beautiful and enjoyable but do not compare to the pleasure and
intrigue I experienced while reading The Grey Walker, Arete, Through
the Tunnel, The Colour of Dishonour, Burning and The Painted Staircase
– just to name a few.

There
are a few stories set in Rayne Hall’s dark epic fantasy novel Storm Dancer
such as The Colour of Dishonour, The Grey Walker, and Each
Stone, A Life. Each of these stories is exceptional in its vividness,
creativity and unfathomable twists! You have no idea what you’re up against!

Hall’s
use of imagery is consistent with her settings. An example of such imagery is
seen in Never Leave Me, “My
heart beat like the hooves of a herd of cattle.”
The image is consistent with a farmer's background.

Thirty
Scary Tales boasts a ton of
stunning imagery in this collection, whether scary or just plain beautiful. The
reader cannot help but highlight and enjoy.

Hall
uses an array of settings for tales ranging from Germany to England to Turkey,
and extending from Ancient Greece to the Middle Ages to modern times.

As
I have said, some tales stood out. Among them is The Grey Walker with
its use of a zombie-like creature, a parallelism with the trade made by Dr.
Faustus, and its staggering imagery. It is a carefully-crafted story that
will live on. I’m not a fan of zombies, but this story was different for me and
I loved every bit of it. Few would find a beautiful image such as this in a
zombie-like tale: “But his actions had not been waterdrops that evaporated in the
sun without leaving a trace. They had been cruel flames, scorching deep holes
into Laina's defenceless heart.”

The
Grey Walker ends at a climactic point. We finally know why the witch never
mentioned a payment at the beginning. Turgan is not mindless, nor is he
innately evil but he ends up being a Greywalker and understands his purpose.

The
Grey Walker is a 10-star story.

Another
Storm Dancer-set story is The Colour of Dishonour with its layers
of puns and irony (“I have blood on my hands”). I still cannot
shake off the admiration (for Hall) and the horror (for the Captain). The
Colour of Dishonour is another 10-star story.

By
Your Own Free Will makes you think: How far would you go for love? How much are
you willing to sacrifice to be noticed by one man? Would you trade your IQ for
it?

The
final story in Thirty Scary Tales is called Burning. And I have
not found a word to describe my love and respect for this story. It is written
from the perspective for a seven-year-old girl; so naturally, her thoughts highlight
the flaws of grown-ups and carry some comic relief as seen when she thinks that
insurance “prevented families from getting burnt.”

Burning
boasts many layers of love, trust, and ideology. It is an intense and deep
tale. The reader sees how the girl feels a yearning for the love found in the Arab
family that burnt to death, a love this is denied her in her own family. Her
father is obviously cold, uncaring and pretends to be a know-it-all based on pre-conceived
ideas that he speaks out as if they were facts. The girl sympathises with the
Arab family simply because they care for their children unlike her father, whom
she couldn't even picture saving her from a fire.

Special
thanks to Rayne Hall for creating and collecting this set of stories in a
single volume and for sending me a free copy of Thirty Scary Tales for a
Halloween review. I enjoyed reading them all. As for the Storm Dancer-set
stories, this collection has prompted me to begin reading the dark epic novel
as soon as I can.

For Author Alliance means I will post it here
on the blog, two weeks after its publication on the Author Alliance website and
will also be tweeting about it from here.

Starting 1st of November, I will be
reading the following:

·2 Officers by Essam Youssef (Arabic), which I will be reviewing in both Arabic and English.

·Twin Magnolia – if I haven’t finished it – though hopefully I will
by the 30th of October.

I will be looking forward to some more Arabic reads then and hopefully pick
up with studying and revising my previous German levels and reading some short or children’s stories or blog posts.

With all
these to-dos, it’s a bit hard to focus on writing much, if at all. So the
moment I finish October’s to-read, I’ll be back to writing poetry and stories
and taking a closer look at the writing prompts. This week’s #VisDare looks
interesting, might try to give it a shot sometime tomorrow. I’m also looking
forward to Lillie McFerrin’s weekly word prompt, which will be posted tomorrow.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Doxy, you little mean beastie
are you going to hurt me?
An extra pair of hairy legs and arms,
what could you possibly be wanting to harm?
Fairy-like thick wings and human form,
with you around, who could go to their dorm?
Five hundred eggs at a time?
My dear, your reproduction is beyond fine!
Labelled by the Ministry XXX
Can you also perform a hex?
And they sell your yucky droppings
and say we'll get better grades and less failings
Doxy, you mean Doxy!
Get away from me,
and stop trying to hurt me!

Thursday, October 17, 2013

The Wolf of the Highlands by Bil Howard is an interesting novella composed of 12 episodes. It mixes adventure
with history and time travel. It is a novella of experience and self-learning
as we see the Ray Barrett’s character develop throughout the book.

The
story focuses on Ray, who goes to the mountains to rethink his life and clear
his head. There he meets the Scotsman MacGregor and a wolf. At first, the
reader is unsure if MacGregor is real or is a figment of Ray’s imagination. After
their first meeting, Ray is hurled into the past where he is a Native American
called Hoka. Ray calls his time-travel adventures “experiences”; they are
sudden and frequent.

The
language is simple and it is evident that Mr. Howard knows his history. I like
how he lightly incorporates bits of it in The Wolf of the Highlands
making it quite interesting.

There are
four main characters along with many other minor ones coming from the various
and distant periods of time that Ray travels to. Both MacGregor and Alexia are
“Spirit Guides”, which Ray cannot grasp what that really means. We also meet
Fasser, who constantly tries to kill Ray. A little towards the end, Ray
considers what a Spirit Guide means: “What was a “spirit guide”? What did they
do, really? Was it a job opportunity that was listed somewhere? He laughed at
the thought. “Help wanted. Must be willing to travel through time and irritate
the hell out of people.” (p. 103).

The
pace of the novella is quick and exciting, though slightly confusing at first
if the reader is unaware of the time travel theme. The reader meets the
protagonist and the wolf, sees the past and present as well as witnesses a
battle in the first episode of the novella.

The
dialogue in The Wolf of the Highlands has two main purposes; it acts as
a source of information and comic relief. The latter occurs when it is Ray and
MacGregor speaking. Ray is short-tempered and MacGregor rarely gives him a
straight answer.

The reason
or rather reasons that made me give this novella a 4-star rating are: 1) there
were several instances of incorrect use of ‘lay’ versus ‘lie’; 2) at the
beginning there were many parts that were repeated word-for-word and at other
times there was redundant repetition of certain words, like the repetition of
‘thick’ four times in one paragraph. An example for the word-for-word
repetition is: “He remembered the sudden horror that came over them as they
realized that it was not their brothers playing a trick on them.

It was not
our brothers playing a trick on us, but…”. The word-for-word repetition here,
and in other places, was rather annoying for me.

The Wolf of
the Highlands
has an abundance of verdant landscapes and some beautiful images like “the only
salve that could take away the ache that was deep inside.” (p. 44). There were
also several instances of philosophical thinking and introspection, which
contained some interesting lines like “Knowledge should answer questions rather
than create more of them. Or did it?” (p. 52)

As the
story progresses, we see the development of Ray’s character, which is very
nicely done. Ray compares his various experiences and reacts differently to the
idea of death in each. “Although he couldn’t put a finger on specific lessons
that he had learned in each one, he began to have a better sense of who he was.
It was as though he were the steel blade of a sword which had been heated,
hammered on and cooled in order to make it stronger.” (p. 114).

Episode 12 answers
all of Ray’s questions as it mingles humour with revelation. Both Ray's sarcasm
and MacGregor's light-heartedness are funny and amusing. Their constant
tittle-tattle in many such instances throughout the novella creates comic
relief.

Time
travel stories are often tricky at the end but Mr. Howard manages a successful
ending as both Ray and the reader see the various missing pieces of the puzzle
fall in place at the end.

I
had a bit of difficulty rating this novella, for I did enjoy it, though some
parts (mentioned above) annoyed me. So, excuse the odd rating of 4.25 stars.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Kaya had passed
the test – unfortunately. She didn’t want to, but she was a competitive girl
and couldn’t just fail; not when everyone had their eyes on her like that. Now,
she had passed the test, which meant she will be betrothed to a total stranger.

She respected the
idea of marriage – if you knew your partner beforehand.

His name was Marek
– so she had been told. What difference did it make?

She stood at the
gate that led to the Meeting Table that bound their two worlds.

She sighed and
reluctantly began to turn the doorknob.

***

Marek sat at the
Meeting Table thinking of his bride-to-be. It was common knowledge that
Fairy-Women were beautiful, but he wondered what would ‘Kaya’ - that’s what
they said her name was – be like. He was restless, shy and afraid. He didn’t
like the way Elf-Wizards and Fairy-Women met. He felt embarrassed; what if she
didn’t like him. They were practically stuck.

As he sat at the
Meeting Table, the Ancient Gateway door before him suddenly erupted into a
shining sheen of white. It opened and Kaya entered escorted by her Unicorn.

Marek rose and
gave them a small bow, which Kaya returned.

They were silent.

‘Hi,’ said Kaya.

So she was as
embarrassed as he was – not a good thing but not a bad one either.

‘Hi. I’m Marek. I
– er – let’s sit down, shall we?’

They did.

‘The colours of
your wings are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen! – Er not that I’ve seen
many!’

She smiled,
turning pink.

She was far more
beautiful than he’d imagined.

They were silent
again.

‘Erm, can I try
your hat on? I’ve always wanted to try one,’ said Kaya. She realised that in
order to break the silence, she had to be her fun-self.

Marek was a bit
surprised but gave her the Wizard’s cone-shaped hat.

‘At home, we try
to make ones like these out of cloth and leaves to see what it’s like,’ she
explained, ‘but they don’t stand up pointy like yours.’ She said as she tried
his Wizard’s hat.

Friday, October 4, 2013

The
Scribe and the Lotus
by Bakr Fahmy is a historical fiction novel set in ancient in Egypt in the
years 2169 – 2167 BC. The main character is a Scribe called Thut-Nefer, who
constantly attempts to become one with or achieve his Maat, which “creating
truth and upholding the balance”. In other words, he strives for justice
and its application.

The story
tackles ancient Egypt where King Ibi and his governors wreak of corruption,
greed and injustice, where poverty is prevalent and where the people hope that justice
would be served one day; “Corruption is eating at us, from the inside out.”
(p. 35)

The
pace of The Scribe and the Lotus is slow, as it mostly deals with
Thut-Nefer’s reflections, thoughts and philosophy concerning the ancient texts
he has memorized. The blue lotus flower is a dominant theme throughout the
novel and it always appears as a source of relaxation, meditation and
revelation. It has a strong effect on Thut-Nefer and allows him to transcend
the boundaries of human life. The novel mixes philosophy with politics and
modern-day problems.

There
are several instances of rise in tension such as the disappearance of Nar,
Thut-Nefer’s friend, and the appearance of the jackal but these instances only
act as a means to push the novel forward.

The novel
is filled with beautiful imagery – many of which are associated with the blue
lotus flower. Amongst these images are “The scribe’s mind is as sharp as the
ibis’s beak and can draw blood, especially when it’s being provoked.” (p.
15); “That girl has a special magic about her. It must be from her perpetual
contact with the lotus, as if the plant entwines itself around her body and
soul, creating a unison of the seen and the unseen, finally blossoming into one
singularly beautiful flower… When I stare into this blue lotus blossom’s
brilliance, my eyes become imbued with her very essence, her light. When I
breathe in her sacred fragrance, my nostrils dilate as if I’m standing at the
Other World’s garden gate.” (p. 63).

One of the
significant images in the novel is “The rat has begotten a ferocious
appetite, just like the crocodile, and the crocodile has become filthy, just
like the rat” (p. 32 and 33). This comparison between the rat and crocodile
is both interesting and significant. Thut-Nefer applies it to humans and the
political image reveals how the greedy have become corrupt and how the evil or the
corrupt have become greedy; there is a mixing of evils.

The
Scribe and the Lotus
is not an average novel for it is very philosophical and contains many references
to texts written in ancient Egypt. Bakr Fahmy relies on these texts and quotes
several throughout his novel, giving it a heavy weight in the historical
fiction genre.

It
is not an easy or light read and I personally felt that there was extensive use
of verbose language, which did not appeal to me, but in some instances, it
fitted the text since the main character is a Scribe in the Holy City of
Men-Nefer. The story is written in the third person but using the present tense,
which was rather undigestable to me at first and which took me a very long time
to get used to.

It
is quite obvious that the author, Bakr Fahmy, has done extensive research to
write and compile such a heavy-weighted novel. He must be lauded and applauded
for that. The novel is set in ancient Egypt so the language has an
archaeological and ancient nature to it. The use of references and quotes,
gives credibility to the historical side of the story. The author has also made
many good choices with his selection of ancient Egyptian texts and references.

There
were some spelling inconsistencies in the novel such as the spelling of Sakkara
and Saqqara; also, the reference to the doctor or physician as “Swnw” and later
as “Swnswn”. This annoyed and confused me a fair bit.

Though
the final chapter in The Scribe and the Lotus is the shortest chapter in
the entire novel, it is also the perfect conclusion to such a piece as it links
the present with the future. In many instances, the reader, and particularly an
Egyptian or Arab reader, feels that what is to come is similar to the recent
Egyptian Revolution that took place in January 2011.

Though
it is not a light read, The Scribe and the Lotus is an interesting novel
that mixes philosophy with modern day ailments and problems. It is a novel that
distinguishes itself in the historical fiction genre.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Every morning the waves rose to greet the sun for a new day
in the ancient city of Alexandria. And each day, the sun embraced the waves and
its inhabitants as it rose to announce the coming of the new day.

Every morning Kreer rose with the waves and his eyes rested
on the same place; the Qayet Bay Castle.

It was many years ago when he walked the halls of that
majestic castle. He had even seen the establishment of the famous Alexandria
lighthouse and with much sadness saw its destruction when the earthquake hit
the ancient city.

Now the Qayet Bay Castle stood where the wondrous lighthouse
had once stood. Every morning he rises to gaze upon the Castle. His heart beat
for the memories he had there. For in that Castle was where he met the love of
his life, Yasmine, a beautiful and breathtaking dark-skinned Egyptian woman.

Yasmine was a tour guide who came to the Castle often to
show the world its beauty. Kreer would come to meet her after she finished work.

But that was many years ago. He lost count for he didn’t age
as Yasmine and humans did.

He remembered the day she professed her love for him.

‘Kreer,’ she said, ‘there’s something I want to tell you.’

They were holding hands while taking a stroll inside the
Castle after closing hours. He had taken her to the balcony overlooking the
sea. The night air was fresh and slightly salty with a full moon shining
proudly over the water.

‘Kreer,’ she began again, her face blushing as she looked
down then up to meet his eyes, ‘I’m in love with you!’

His heart beat strong in his chest at the sound of those
words. She touched his face and he closed his eyes and rested his head on her
hand.

She had stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek then his
neck.

He could feel her excitement.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and laid her head
against his chest.

But it didn’t seem enough. She wanted more.

Kreer was old in life not in years. He did want to spend his
life with her but he did not know much about humans let alone women, and
Yasmine’s excitement scared him.

As a Merman, he had had crushes on other Mermaids before but
Yasmine was the first human; and though mingling with humans was not well
thought of, Kreer did it often for he could easily come and go between the two worlds
as he pleased.

Yasmine was about 30 at the time. An age frowned upon by
society even if opportunity had not presented itself and even though a man of
the same age was considered young. Kreer did not quite get that part.

As he wrapped his arms around her, she tiptoed again to kiss
him more. He felt her desire on her lips, enjoyed them immensely but was
equally afraid for Yasmine did not know he was not human. They had been seeing
each other for several months but Kreer had not told her much about himself. He
told her that he was from a well to do family that was travelling most of the
time and that he lived and worked in Alexandria. Yasmine had shared some of her
secrets with him but he hadn’t shared his biggest secret with her. Part of him
feared her reaction, another part feared she would let his secret out. He
trusted her but because his knowledge of humans was not of expert level not
even intermediate, he had his doubts; those same doubts that ruined many of his
relationships with Mermaids.

She was acting childishly, or so he thought.

The sea had bred him strong and slightly cold. Yasmine, on
the other hand, was high with excitement and longing then. A kiss would have
excited and calmed her at the same time. So it was with women. But Kreer did
not know that. He wanted to calm her but did not know how. He also did not
truly know much about human love and desire. Merpeople had desires but they
were never as strong, stormy or sudden as human desires.

He just held her.

‘Kreer! Do you understand what I’m saying? I love you and I
don’t want to spend another moment without you!’

She was excited still but fear and frustration had begun to
creep in. Again, she kissed his neck, but he didn’t seem to feel or rather
understand what that meant. She felt like she was kissing handsome rock.

Where had his feelings gone? She had felt them before. What
was going on?

Yasmine had been heartbroken before. When she met Kreer, she
was scared but he had calmed her and eased her previous pain. He did not talk
much but he had this soothing and calming effect that lingered with her.

He could hear her heartbeats screaming when they first stood
under the moon and she told him how she felt. Bit by bit, her heartbeats began
to slow till they were at normal pace.

It was at that moment that Yasmine backed away from him,
looking at him as a puppy looks at a fully grown wolf.

‘What is wrong with you?’ Her voice had changed. It was
angry, scared and uncertain.

‘Yas-’, he began but she cut him short. ‘Don’t Yasmine me!
What’s the matter with you? Here I am dying to be with you. I’ve been counting
the hours till our meeting and here you stand as cold and as silent as stone.’

Her voice was rising and he saw anger in her eyes. He didn’t
understand why, but guessed it was his lack of emotions compared to her.

‘If you’ve been playing with my feelings all this time –’,
she began but overwhelmed she stopped.

‘No. No. I haven’t been playing with your feelings. I care
about you,’ he told her. The word ‘love’ was not something he had heard before amongst
Merpeople, and all he knew was what he felt through her. When she professed her
love, he felt her tingling desirous emotions. She wanted him. And that was all
he knew about love; all he had come to know about love, in his long life, a few
minutes before.

‘Care?’ Her tone was venomous.

‘Care? No love? Nothing?’

‘You have to understand. I’m not like you.’ His words were
poison.

He did not mean it. Now was not the time to tell her that he
was a Merman but there was no other way to explain why he acted this way.

‘Let me show you,’ he said, taking her hand. She pulled away.

He heard her heart beat differently. He’d never heard a
human heart beat like that before.

‘Yasmine, what’s wrong? Why is your heart beating like
that?’

‘May be because you’re breaking it!’

Tears were forming in her eyes. She looked away, burying her
face in her hands.

He came from behind and held her.

‘I’m not human. Please believe me.’ He whispered.

She whimpered.

‘Will you just let me show you?’ He pleaded, ‘please?’

She was not convinced, but might as well see whatever it is
he was saying. Her heart was broken anyway, what did it matter if he turned out
to be another liar with a better excuse.

She nodded silently, but tears were already streaming down
her cheeks.

She turned around slowly. He was already standing at the
edge with the sea banging against the castle walls.

He took off his shirt and jumped into the dark water.

Yasmine screamed and went to the wall to look. Seconds
seemed like eons but finally Kreer’s head and torso appeared unharmed.

‘Look!’ he called out, and dived again. As he did, Yasmine
did not see legs and feet but a beautiful silvery-turquoise tail fin. Her
sadness turned into awe and surprise.

She gaped.

‘Come down,’ he called out.

‘I’m scared. I’ll come from the shore,’ she answered.

She raced down the castle steps, doing her best not to fall
and break her neck.

The shore was empty. It must have been quite late. Yasmine
took off her sandals and put her feet in the water. Freezing was not the word
to describe it but she didn’t know any words colder than ‘freezing’.

‘Kreer!’ She called out, but her voice was lost over the
late night wind.

‘KREER!’ She said at the top of her voice as she took a few
more steps in.

Now her whole body was shaking and she felt as though her
legs were going numb from the cold.

Kreer appeared in the distance. The tide was getting
stronger. He edged towards her but for some reason she wouldn’t come forward to
meet him.

Strong tides were harder to swim against but then again it
was something he was used to and no longer considered dangerous.

She moved in more, trying to fight the growing tide. The
water was a little over her waist now. ‘Kreer, I’m scared.’

‘I can’t come that far with my tail fin. You have to come to
me. I’ll keep you safe.’

She wasn’t sure what to do. But he hadn’t intentionally
broken heart; he was in fact different. As she debated and turned the thoughts
over in her head, several massive waves came down on her like an avalanche,
while the tide pulled her from underneath. She dived, came up to take a breath
and was pulled down again.

It was only then that Kreer realised that the water was too
strong for his beautiful flower. He inched as much as he could but the tide
worked against him too. He had reached the utmost he could but Yasmine was
nowhere to be seen. He called out at the top of his voice but to no avail. He
dived and searched for her and still nothing.

As the sea began to calm, he saw something floating in the
distance. A lump formed in his chest and he swam as fast as he could. It was
Yasmine, or her lifeless body at least.

He screamed and cursed in all the languages and tongues he
knew.

It was then that he knew what heartbreak felt like. That day
he tasted fury and bitterness. That day he hated the sea. He had heard humans
speak of the sea as treacherous but had never believed it – not until that day
when the sea took his life away. That day, he understood. And he has never forgiven
the sea since.